Joel Gagne (Avakian and Associates, a consultant to Olentangy and New Albany): "The time for some political pain is way overdue in [New Albany]."

Paul Fallon (Fallon Research, a consultant of Olentangy and New Albany): "Candidly, I also think you should attempt to cull some private campaign fund dollars to have the ability to test questions in the survey that you do not want to be subjected to the Sunshine Law, because they are publicly-funded."

Some things to keep in mind: Dorn-Bell worked for Olentangy at the time she was (obviously) advising New Albany. Soon after this email string, Dorn-Bell left Olentangy for a position at New Albany. Then, after the New Albany levy, Dorn-Bell took a job with ... get this ... Avakian and Associates. Funny how these things just work out.

Note how they all use personal email addresses to skirt sunshine laws. That is until Dorn-Bell blows her own cover with a cut and paste reply. It makes me wonder what else is going on outside of public view.

I wonder if any of this is legal -- 'cause it sure ain't ethical.

I also wonder if the folks in New Albany like the fact that they were played by some highly-paid consultants.

Note: I'm not certain if Paul's off-site coffee invite is for taxpayers (read last line below). It may just be for tax consumers. Give him a call on his private line to find out.

My first thought is "ask Hilliard if not having a cut list worked for them." Second, they have to. I must have cut list. Unless people can see how it affects them, forget it. I can provide loads of anichdotal evidence on that one. Third, the board has to -- early on -- come up with the list so that people can see there are no sacred cows. The list is the list. And they have to stick with it. I'll be talking with Castle today. I'll relay my thoughts on Paul's email. Now, the board is a different story.

Joel Gagne writes:

Paul/Carole,

I think Paul’s third point is critical. The time for some political pain is way overdue in NA. The fact they are considering a levy without unveiling a cut list is astounding to me. I sense that the political will to do this weak from both Steve and the BOE. This point is going to have to be hammered to them if we are going to get it through, they just do not do this in NA and they have to start. Thoughts?-----Joel GagneAvakian and Associatesjoelgagne@mac.comCell: 339-499-8623

Here is a collection of various observations and ideas that I want to share with you privately, because I think that they have important implications for how the upcoming campaign will be waged, and are largely political in nature. Moreover, while the focus group findings speak for themselves, and the subsequent overview summarizes them very succinctly, there are some points of political sub-text that I want to call to your attention. They are listed in no particular order, because I think that they are all equally important.

First, although in the Information Age it is almost axiomatic for people to complain about the woeful amount of communication they are getting from under-funded public entities – in part, because the volume and frequency of information is so great, that many people sub-consciously filter what they allow to get through -- the problems in your District appear to be much more serious. I suspect that the District has not been communicating effectively or consistently, and, possibly, lacks a coherent plan to inform the public. An immediate need is to conduct a communication audit and analysis to determine what needs to be done better and differently! Like a campaign, special emphasis needs to be placed on reaching people by breaking themdown into various sub-groups, rather than using consolidated methods to communicate with the entire public using broadcast mediums (which are clearly inadequate and, possibly, fragmented in your District).

Second, the past campaign was, I suspect, defeated because, simply put, it failed to congeal into a specific idea or vision. Every winning campaign “is about something” and my review of the information and articles sent to me, as well as the comments of the focus groups respondents, indicate that a coherent theme never emerged in the past campaign. It will be important to cede some authority to Joel, because he can distill all of the various aspects and ideas into a single concept.

Third, a vaunted effort must be made to demonstrate what has been done, or is being done, to use existing resources to solve problems and maximize existing space. This will assure the voting public that, when you do ask for operating money, it is genuinely needed. It will also obliquely reinforce the premise there is a serious problem that will require public support of a bond issue to pass. Even in affluent New Albany, it appears that voters want to know more about austerity measures that are being taken – perhaps to be assured that the District is not being cavalier with its money.

Fourth, because the credibility of the institution (including, I suspect, the Board of Education) is somewhat embattled, it will be important to get outside third parties to endorse what you are doing by taking an oversight role in the process and vouching for your plans. Although it may open some old wounds for him, track down George Tombaugh, who was the former superintendent in Westerville, to ask him how we repositioned his campaign after 3 successive losses. Although he bristled, the shift of emphasis away from him and towards a blue ribbon panel of business leaders gave the District’s levy request external credibility that was pivotal.

Fifth, it is time to start mentally preparing to answer the question of what will be done differently. Since the public has said “no” once – rather emphatically! – it is critical to justify the decision to go back on the ballot with a similar request by demonstrating that new policy and program decisions frame this ballot request in a different context. That is, although the money requested may be essentially the same, the District’s new policies, programs and austerity measures are different enough to warrant reconsideration.

Sixth, the decision about whether to seek a property tax levy or income tax in order to raise operating revenue will be a political calculation that cannot be made with survey data alone. Working on a multitude of school funding issues in a variety of different circumstances, I have learned that such campaigns often fail because they implode due to dissension from internal constituencies. Given the hostile environment that exists due the economy, the challenges you face will be formidable enough without having to cobble together support from groups such as influential opinion leaders who have the gravitas, incentive and means to deter support for an issue that they oppose. As you are considering what type of mechanism to promote, it is crucial to carefully consider what political actions could be taken to destabilize support for your issue. While I do not recommend capitulating at the first sign of resistance, I do think it is important tohave a lucid, and sobering, understanding of the obstacles to success before any campaign is undertaken, so that sound and pragmatic decisions can be made.

Lastly, unless something has changed, I still anticipate conducting the survey in mid-May. Please advise me immediately if you are having second thoughts about timing. I will also need to know if there are any political developments that change your thinking about what revenue mechanism, or mechanisms, you think the Board will put before voters in November, so we can test them in the survey. Candidly, I also think you should attempt to cull some private campaign fund dollars to have the ability to test questions in the survey that you do not want to be subjected to the Sunshine Law, because they are publicly-funded.

After you have read this, seek out Joel’s opinions and advice about these observations and ideas. He may feel differently, and have better advice, which I would not be inclined to disregard. You have a complex situation that is quite treacherous, and the insight you gain from collaboration will help you overcome the challenges that the District faces in the coming months.

If you have any questions about this, feel free to call me. I will be in the office all day on Thursday and Friday of this week, and can be reached on my private line at 614-297-7090. I would also be glad to meet off-site over coffee, if you want to talk in more detail.

31 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Wow--it's amazing how that Carole Dorn-Belle just brings trouble wherever she goes. And she brought it to New Albany months before she was even hired to be their Miniser of Information. Now, ruining the trust of a community in their school district months before being hired there really takes talent.

And if you read into Fallon's email he speaks of putting together a community "blue ribbon panel" for no other reason than to give the levy "inside credibility". Now I know why members of that 70 person finance comittee came away so disillusioned after seeing their valuable input discarded--their input was only a device to make them feel included and to string them along! I thought it was strange to have a committee that large--it was way too large to have been a serious deliberative body. But what wasn't known at the time was that it was never intended to be a serious deliberative body. They members of it were used politically, and for no other reason than to give the levy scheme legitimacy.

"Brian" must refer to their Treasurer, Brian Ramsay. Love the personal email address "Thirteenthbox@yahoo.com". At least he used something anonymous.

If it weren't for dopey Carole Dorn-Dumbell using her public email address they would have gotten away with it. But, dopier Steve Castle uses a Gmail account---with his name on it! Earth to Steve Castle--The next time you try to deceive the good people of your district you might want to have a more anonymous email address. Here are some suggestions:

"husbandofkleptomaniac"

or

"i'mhighlypaidtoscrewU"

or how about this

"NAPLneedstofeelpain"

I hope four members of fiscalresponsibilitynow.com run for the four board seats that are up in November. It's time to put an end to the nonsense, and only the scrutiny of an engaged school board that takes oversight seriously can do that. We in Olentnangy know this all too well.

Don’t you love how school districts argue their public sector charge in order to resist conforming to market forces and private sector financial principles, but then refuse their public sector charge to obey open records laws?

New Albany is about to awaken to the treachery of a rotten administration and permissive school board. It finally took being taken for them to finally “get it”. At Olentangy, the first school board meeting after the levy passed was like Christmas. Raises were given, and contracts were renewed one and two years before expiration--and with new perks.

Anon 3:37 PM. Right. That's how it works. And I have read the books that explain that you have to form those committees to get people to take ownership of The Plan. And it's important to get community movers and shakers who can be examples to the rest of the sheep about how they should think and behave. Nothing new there. Those instruction manuals were being written years ago. Such as guides for Change Agents. Had it done to me 30 years ago. I complained to the local supt. ( a worthless so-and-so) about the door-to-door sales of junk by the school kids in the system (like all schools do). First he tried to schmooze me by phone, telling me he had to go along with the sales or incur the displeasure of booster groups. So I wrote a letter to the board. One member who was not on the take called to advise me to come to the meeting (held in the supt.'s office) because otherwise no mention would be made of my complaint. I went and he was right. Nothing on the agenda, no copies made for board members. Nobody else at the meeting but me. Next step. Supt. forms a committee to "study" the situation. I was put on the committee. That was to make me take ownership of whatever the handpicked group decided. I played along. But my good friend was on the PTA board and she made sure at every PTA meeting, surveys were passed out for people to rate fund-raising ideas. Door-to-door sales always lost. Eventually, much of that huckstering was ended. A very small victory overall. But that was my introduction to the way they operate in the government schools.

"This is the playbook for pretty much any election. It is how the world works but I find it interesting that you grasp at nothing to try and make something to attack those you do not like."

When those political manuevers are done to me directly; when they're in my "back yard", affect me and my family directly, and the schemers are people who I've met and continually tell me that what they do "is for the kids", then--you're right--I develop are real strong dislike for them.

I was half paying attention to the local-yokel "news" this evening. I think I heard that some idjit in the SW schools system is steaming mad that people didn't pass more taxes so her kid can do sports so she's firing up to do a class-action suit. I guess she plans to force her neighbors to pay up or else.

Jim, your Libertarian "theft" routine is getting old. It is not theft. The citizens of this community voted to form a school district and tax themselves as a community to pay for it. As soon as they agreed to take the "product" they incurred the expense. It is no more theft than the car dealer taking your money for the auto you just ordered.

If you don't like how the other 50+% of the citizens are running the community then go find one that better suits your views. We wish you would.

The fact is that you and your followers here are a minority, a very small minority. Your political philosophy is illogical but at least your grandstanding is humorous. Luckily it is only humorous and has no real impact on the rest of the community.

As to the other comment, I, like most of the citizens who support our community and schools, am not affiliated with the district beyond have children attend the schools. It is easy to accuse us all of being "Julie" but there are not thousands and thousands of Julie Feasels only thousands and thousands of like minded voters. Voters who disagree with you.

No, they're not graduates, nor do any alumi occupy executive positions in those (otherwise esteemed) institutions.

Olentangy--more specifically the Board of Education--shares with them the Brick Wall Award!

This is an award given out yearly by the Society of Professional Journalists to "the individual or organization that ... did the most to block citizen access to public records and proceedings or otherwise violated the spirit of the First Amendment during the past year."

And, for this, the Olentangy school board has also distinguished itself among its peers as the only one in the state of Ohio to have achieved this honor!

I voted for the last three levies. I have since lifted up the hood of this cadillac that I've been paying for all these years and found the engine of a Yugo.

College Remediation rate of 20%

AP passing rate of 69%

The former is that the colleges and universities are saying about Olentangy students through the Ohio Board of Regents; the latter is another measurement of college preparation. And those are the students who are confident to take them: Only 62% of students take AP courses so, one wonders, how badly would the balance of elegible students perform if they took them?

I want our district to be the best, and will never be unless our leaders are truthful and face that which is uncomfortable, unflattering and inconvenient. All they do is wrap themselves in the comfort and aggrandizement of the state's "Exellent with Distinction" rating, which is loaded with nonsensical, "value added" offsets and other artificial boosters of performance--not to mention that the "Distinction" rating was created out of whole cloth last year and applied to the same scoring index from the previous year (like re-indexing the same score from an "A" rating to an "A+" rating).

The administration avoids adding rigor to the curriculum so as to not put the rating at risk. Image is everything, of course.

Sadly, this course of complacency took a tragic turn this year when "Summative Assessment" was implemented, which, despite it's impressive title, is nothing more than allowing students to take a test over and over until they achieve the score they (or their teachers) want. Twenty years ago this would have been a scandal. It's going on right now, right here. It does not help our kids. It only helps our district staff to maintain it's treasured "Excellent" rating, which is key to passing levies and increasing their salaries.

I do write checks, my property tax is how I pay my share of the cost of the district.

And I do care about what my neighbors think. That is why we continually talk amongst ourselves about our district and why we have gotten involved at all levels of the district. It is also why a significant majority of my neighbors have voted to continue to pay their share of the taxes.

Yes, I do have some neighbors who do not want to pay taxes. We have neighbors who use the schools by sending their children there but oppose all the levies and grumble about paying property taxes. Are they the ones promoting theft by using the service but not wanting to pay for it?

You also benefit from the strong district even though you did not send your kids to Olentangy. Your property value has increased or held its value better than other communities like Westerville or South Western City. Are you promoting theft by taking the value but not wanting to pay the price?

If you do not agree with your neighbors and do not want to pay for the services they have decided they want as a whole, then move. You need to find that remote Libertarian enclave of like minded people who do not have "government" schools and do not pay taxes.

But instead you have chosen to live in a community that wants "government" schools and shares the costs amongst itself. It was freely chosen and it is not theft.

Taking tests over and over again until the kid demonstrates competency is just Outcome Based Education. That's the way it works. Ohio signed on to this years ago. It's a pity that people who are really concerned about their children's education do not realize what the government schools are expected (by the powers-that be) to do. I hear all these people claiming they are paying attention but they need to get a clue. They need to know that the entire system was restructured, at least as far back as Geo. H. W. Bush with his America 2000 and the world confab in Jomtien, Thailand. All children were to be part of the globalist Systems education. Outcome Based Ed. (what all schools do) is for training workers to go out and do Total Quality Management in the workplace. All teachers are trained by Bloom's (and Krathwohl's) Taxonomies. Taxonomies of the Cognitive, Psychomotor and Affective Domains. "To Know, Do and Be Like. Those in control of the curriculum and the books and the tests are IN CONTROL of the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs. They don't want your kids to be brilliant. They want them to be trainable and controllable. LESS IS MORE, you know. In OBE it doesn't matter how long it takes for your kiddos to learn to perform to suit THE STATE. It only matters that they eventually do. I'm sure there are quite a few professional people in the Olentangy district, including doctors, lawyers, etc. but they just don't get it.

Just in case you've missed the last year in your Chryon Freeze Chamber....I believe property values have plummeted in our community....yet the taxes are based on the old values and increased by 25% in February.

According to my financial institution, my house in worth less than I paid for it 10 years ago....even though a year ago it was valued $250,000 more than I paid.

According to your "high property value" theory....I should pay taxes for what it really is worth 10 years ago...that would be 75% less than I just paid!

Maybe your friends at OLSD should live within their means 3 years before they threaten to cut essential services. There are so many opportunities to save money without affecting "the kids"!

“I do write checks, my property tax is how I pay my share of the cost of the district.”

But you grab a disproportionate benefit – you benefit above what you pay. Sort of like leaving the tip in lieu of contributing to the cost of the meal.

In essence, you are advocating a form of redistribution – a welfare system of sorts.

“Yes, I do have some neighbors who do not want to pay taxes. We have neighbors who use the schools by sending their children there but oppose all the levies and grumble about paying property taxes. Are they the ones promoting theft by using the service but not wanting to pay for it?”

But they are paying. Am I promoting theft because I complain about paying sales tax or income tax? This is a nonsensical claim.

“You also benefit from the strong district even though you did not send your kids to Olentangy. Your property value has increased or held its value better than other communities like Westerville or South Western City. Are you promoting theft by taking the value but not wanting to pay the price?”

But my property value has recently decreased yet my taxes are rising. Where’s the benefit? And, by the way, the correlation between school quality and property value is specious at best.

“If you do not agree with your neighbors and do not want to pay for the services they have decided they want as a whole, then move. You need to find that remote Libertarian enclave of like minded people who do not have "government" schools and do not pay taxes.”

Why do you hide behind a majority vote to claim some moral high ground? You vote to make your neighbors pay for your wants and wash your hands of your actions.

I should have added that by my observation being smart enough to qualify as a physician or a lawyer or any of a number of professional vocations does not make one wise about life, does not indicate such people will understand or even spend time trying to understand a host of other subjects. Such professionals can be quite obtuse when it comes to subjects out of their specialty. My physician is LDS (as are some executives, I hear) and I sure don't trust her to offer advice on any other subject other than medicine. And even then I take it with a grain of salt. She's told me she is in favor of Socialized Medicine so there you are. So why would anyone expect other professional types to be any wiser?

1:46 - Sorry to hear about your property value loss, but that doesn't apply to everyone in this community; my house has appreciated over $110,000 in the last 8 years since I purchased it; I know because I just had it appraised.

10:56 - I looked at your figures about AP and then asked my high schooler about them just to get a kid's-eye view. She said that some kids just don't want to take them; too much pressure that they don't want. She said even some kids who do take AP don't do as well as they can once they realize the work load involved, which accounts for the passage rate, which, when compared to a lot of schools, is very good. There is some responsibility on the parts of the kids to pass, wouldn't you agree? (By the way, that is an average. A lot of the courses have significantly higher pass rates).

I then asked her what she thought about the 20% remediation rate, especially in a district like ours. She said that there are kids with lots of problems, like family issues, drugs, lack of motivation and even kids who take longer to learn or have learning disabilities. She said I don't know why people think that just because this is a rich district that every kid is going to be a superstar. We have a lot more achievement than kids in most districts.

Finally, I asked her about summative assessment. She said kids can't take stuff over and over, just once. She likes it because she doesn't get "dinged" when she is first learning something, which would affect her grades even if she gets it by the test. She said it is good for kids who take longer to learn but that those who use it as a way to be lazy and not study are the ones who make it bad.

Just thought a kid's view might be interesting. You aren't paying for a Yugo. Our kids are achieving well and learning a lot. Not everyone will agree with everything, of course. That is the way it is always going to be in this district or any other. If this is a Yugo, then what is Westerville? Southwestern? Columbus?

People need to consider. The government decides the curriculum. The government trains and hires the teachers. The government supplies the books and tests. The government grades the tests. The government decides the OUTCOMES. Gee, do you suppose the government manipulates things to favor the government? Nah.

Tuesday: Go over summative test and discuss policy for retakes (earn full points possibly). Sign up for retakes during 10th either Wednesday or Thursday. Introduce the quarter project and give feedback. Hand out "I can" statements and begin discussion of ecology."

Note: "Go over summative test and discuss POLICY FOR RETAKES (EARN FULL POINTS POSSIBLY). Sign up for retakes..."

I like the last one, too: "Hand out 'I can' statements and begin discussion of ecology." If this is AP Biology, then we're in trouble.

I took advanced (it wasn't called "honors") biology in high school, and we were never assigned a "I Can" statement to discuss ecology ("ecology" is to biology, what Astrology is to Astronomy). What ninny of a teacher is this woman? I went to an overall crappy school, but I had a few really good teachers. One of my instructors, "Mr. T" made sure that we had the Krebs Cycle--and half a dozen other biochemical or metabolic processes--down-flat by end of Freshman year. I can see Mr T's face crinkling now as he listens to the "I Can" statements on ecology.

But, there you go--Summative Assessment. Here's the link. Go here and search on "Summative".http://teacherweb.olentangy.k12.oh.us/weblog/penrod/

But, it gets better. Apparently teachers are given Summative Assessment for certification, too. Take a gander. Are our kids in trouble, or what???

This from the Ohio State BOE May 2008 Meeting Report:

"Update on Ohio’s Entry Year ProgramCyndi Yoder, Executive Director Teaching Profession, reported that 99% of teachers passed the Praxis III on the first attempt. She explained the introduction of Sub. House Bill 347, which codifies learning and assessment data into the induction program through a portfolio and requires a redesigned performance system. The new system would include formative assessment with coaching over a two-year period of time resulting in a summative assessment to determine gaining the five-year license. Mr. Bender asked how the assessments would work and would they be transferable from one district to another. Yoder explained that the formative and summative assessments would be the same for each district and it would build on the current Praxis III. Board Member Jane Sonenshein asked if budgetary needs were included in the discussion of Sub House Bill 347. Yoder said they looked at some cost redistribution through the closing of Praxis Centers and moving the programs to ESCs. Yoder said the information was shared with Representative Arlene Setzer. Ms. Harrold asked about alignment of the standards with Praxis III and expressed concern with the availability of mentors and the capacity to provide two years of mentoring. Yoder said she believed there were enough mentors. Ms. Harrold asked if administrators understood that the mentoring process was important."

Anon 6:51 PMThe deal is...teachers must be processed through Outcome Based Ed/Performance Based Ed just as their "learners" (no longer called students) must be processed through OBE/Performance Based. Portfolios/Assessments/re-taking of assessments...er..tests. A closed system. All are put through the system. Read B.K. Eakman's book, EDUCATING FOR THE NEW WORLD ORDER. Affective Education does not deal very much with facts/academics. It deals with feelings/emotions/affections. That's how children/people are made to believe and behave to please the State. Our televisions work on us every time we sit in front of them. Our crooked politicians process us. General Systems Theory/Systems Education.

Hey--maybe if my employer adopts "Summative Assessment" then the deadlines will go away and I'll get to do my reporting over and over until I get it right.

What kind of message does this send our kids. Do think this kind of conditioning--and it does result in conditioning--is beneficial for our kids? Does it prepare them for the Real World? Or, for that matter, what college employs "Formative Assessment" and "Summative Assessment" to condition, er, "educate" our kids? Doesn't our district leadership understand that kids who undergo this kind of conditioning will be unprepared to deal with the deadlines and rigidity of college?

"William Spady is the head of ChangeLeaders. William Spady is a sociologist and the self-proclaimed father of Outcome-Based Education (OBE). OBE is referred to by over 20 different names including Systemic education restructuring, Performance Based Education, Standards based education reform, High Performance Learning, Total Quality Management, Transformational Education, and Competency-Based Education.

His research is still widely cited in nations such as Australia which are still adopting OBE. Nevertheless, the names have been changed in the US largely due strong negative responses to these programs when they have been introduced to actual students and parents. All of these titles refer to a similar philosophy and a plan which implements radical and "systemic" change into schools. The response to his involvement with OBE has been so negative in some communities that hundreds of parents have shown up in community meetings to protest his involvement in education planning. Many have researched the thousands of articles on the internet referring to Spady, with many showing the harmful effects of his theories on actual children."

Bill Spady. Learn of him and know what OBE really is. I have a video tape showing him being interviewed and exposing him for what he is. And knowing about all this is why I know that Olentangy taxpayers and parents are paying big bucks to be scammed.

6:51: First of all, what adult uses the word "tool?" It would make your argument stronger if you didn't behave like a child. Second, AP and Honors are two different things, so you have your facts wrong. AP Curriculum is determined by the College Board, so you clearly have the curricula wrong. Perhaps you don't really know what course your child is taking?

Mr. Fedako: Average achievement is not okay with me and my child achieves well above average. However, here is the problem. A lot of people assume things about kids' achievement just because of a district's demographics, assumptions such as parent involvement. You state that children will achieve well if parents are involved, but too many aren't involved, even in this high demographic area. I go to curriculum nights and the desks are empty of parents there to learn about what their children are going to learn that year. Same with sporting events. So... even though the demographics have increased in the area, the mindset hasn't moved as quickly, it seems. Maybe in 20-30 years when the wealth has seeped in, like Upper Arlington or other well established districts. Olentangy is young in comparison and has only recently been in the high demographic range relative to the time the district has been in existence.

I have to wonder about people who write how much attention they are paying to what's going on with their kids in the school but show absolutely no interest in the mind-bending that goes on there. The Socio-psychologists have done their work well.

The mere size and demographics of OLSD dictate that it will never be Upper Arlington!

OLSD is a big wannabe district...they wannabe UA or New Albany!

Spend spend spend....bigger bigger bigger....then you become a big city school district overwhelmed with out of control spending and low, or dumb downed standards just so they can maintain their Excellent rating. Remediation is a huge issue with OLSD graduates. Yes, they offer 19 AP classes, but only 20% pass the AP placement tests in College. Are they really providing the children a service, or are they just padding for the district to brag to publications about how wonderful their academic programs are?

I wonder...does UA offer Jewelry making classes...or do they do that at the rec center.